Haloxylon ammodendron
(C.A.Mey) Bunge - Saxaul, Saksaul.

Taxonomic position.

Synonyms.

Morphology and biology.

Perennial shrub or tree 1-5 m tall, branched, with grey bark and green or glaucous-green, elongate, rather juicy shoots 1.5-2 mm diameter, adpressed or drooping. Develops strong root system, growing several meters down and occupying ground volume as large as several cubic meters. Leaves underdeveloped, in a shape of opposite obtusate tubercles, with short hairs in axils. Flowers bisexual, very small, in axils of scale-like leaves, solitary, on short branchlets later accrescent into fragile vegetative shoots. Tepals ovate, scarious-translucent, forming obovate wings 8-10 spread. Fruit dark green, depressed above, with tubercle in the center, with a roll at margin about 2 mm diameter. Flowers in April, fruits in September.